Villa defender heading to West Ham?

Struggling Aston Villa desperately need to improve their squad before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday night after losing to Millwall and Bradford City in the FA and League Cup respectively and given their position in the bottom three of the Premier League.

However according to the Telegraph this won’t happen unless they can get rid of some of the dead wood at the club. That includes unwanted left back Stephen Warnock who has now been told he can leave Villa Park this week on a free transfer.

Under pressure Paul Lambert wants to free up funds to bring in new players so the club are set to let the former England international leave to relieve himself of the £40,000-a-week wages.

The paper reports that Warnock, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Championship outfit Bolton Wanderers, is in talks with Sam Allardyce over a proposed move to Upton Park before the window closes.

It was understood by punters in the Football Transfer Tavern that Warnock was wanted by both Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United on a loan deal until the end of the season but it appears that Villa have decided to cut their loses with the defender and the chance to save his career is likely to attract him to East London.